Do you struggle with unclean thoughts, wrong desires or bad habits? Of course you do! We are all human, and we often feel the pull of our sinful nature dragging us down. Jesus knows this about us. He told His disciples: “The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak” (Matt. 26:41). The first step to overcoming temptation is to admit your weakness. Don’t beat yourself up or condemn yourself because you struggle with sin. If you did not struggle, you would be dead!
When I told a good friend this week that I was battling temptation, he said: “The fact that you are battling shows that you are a warrior.” I love that! God does not condemn us because we have a sinful nature. He calls us to fight! He says: “Resist the devil and he will flee from you” (James 4:7). Fighting is not an option. Spiritual warfare is real. But you don’t have to fight alone. Invite close friends into your struggle and enlist their encouragement and prayers. And always soak yourself in God’s love and remember that He accepts you in spite of your flaws.